Berate
mediumNegative tonebih-RAYT
verb
Definition
To scold or criticize someone angrily and at length
Memory hook
BE-RATE: to RATE someone harshly — scold them angrily and at length.
Examples
“The coach berated the players for their careless mistakes.”
“She was berated by her supervisor in front of colleagues.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The coach ______ the players for their careless mistakes.”
Show answer
berated
Categories
GRE Tip
Berate is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "castigate" or "upbraid" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "commend".
Related GRE Words
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